J | The Catalyst | Volume 4, Issue 4 | February 2018

OPINION | Page 2 A VOICE FROM THE WOMEN’S MARCH

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ARTS & LIFE | Page 3 SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

SPORTS | Page 4 CHEER AND POM BRING NATIONALS ON!

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Volume 4, Issue 4

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NEWS

Intersession program gives NDB community a mental health break

February 2018 FEATURE

“I am Diverse” honors Black History Month

SAMANTHA RAMOS / THE CATALYST

Social Sciences teacher Rebecca Fisher (left) and several club members designed the board.

by Johana Ligtenberg Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst ROBERT ROJAS/ THE CATALYST

NDB alumnae and current Trojans Sofia Reyes and Allison Taylor (‘16) discuss the cost of tuition and financial aid with sophomores and juniors on a tour of USC during the SoCal College Trip. by the Editorial Staff @TheNDBCatalyst

During the last week of February, the NDB community got a well-deserved mental health break from their regularly scheduled classes and work schedules for Intersession.

It is a weeklong program that happens every other school year where

faculty and staff members teach courses about topics they feel passionate about, but do not really get to share during the regular school year. Courses are proposed and then some are approved earlier in the year based on their academic value and connection to the school’s hallmarks.

Students have a wide range of courses to

select from that are held both on and off-campus throughout the week.

The on-campus courses included cooking, jewelry-making, and scrapbooking, to name just a few.

Taking a break from his usual Ultimate Frisbee course, English teacher Adam Currier taught a class on hip hop

music for the first time. His students not only listened to and analyzed the music, but looked at the impact the genre has had on culture and history.

Some courses were held off-campus, including college and museum visits up and down the peninsula, hikes in the See Intersession | Page 3

The “I am Diverse” Club worked with Social Sciences teachers Stephane Barile and Rebecca Fisher to design a bulletin board celebrating Black History Month.

It presents important events in African American history and connects them with Notre Dame, Hallmark #3: “We educate for and act on behalf of social justice and peace in the world.”

Junior Rachel Liu expressed her appreciation

for the board. She said, “I think it’s a good way to raise awareness, and I like that they have it this year.

They have not had this in recent years, and I like how it connects the past and presents and discusses the impact of African-Americans on our history.”

The club is collaborating with the Feminism Club to screen and discuss the movie, “Hidden Figures.” It is also collaborating with the Advocate Club to screen and discuss the documentary, “From Selma to Stonewall.”

See Black History | Page 3

NEWS

The Mock Trial team gets its day in court during annual competition

by Johana Ligtenberg Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

Penny Wars support Sudanese school Along with other service leaders, seniors Lizzi Donaville and Bella Macrae count millions of coins collected during the annual Penny Wars, a sister trifecta event. The total amount raised was $2,049.50 with first place going to the freshmen and junior classes. The proceeds will go toward Sister Carolyn Buhs’ school in South Sudan.

A young, passionate political activist faces life in prison for first degree murder -- Did Casey Davidson bludgeon Alex Thompson to death with her walking stick or was she simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? Is she guilty or not guilty?

Since last September, the NDB Mock Trial team has been examining the facts of this fictional legal case to argue the fate of Casey Davidson. The team is divided into JV and Varsity and then into defense and prosecution sections with its own cast of attorneys, witnesses, and other members that study the case, its evidence, and other details during after-

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

Law & Order: NDB: The Mock Trial team takes a moment before entering the courtroom.

school practices twice a week.

Each side competes with teams from other high schools on the southern part of the peninsula at the San Mateo County Mock Trial Competition in late January and early February.

Convening in actual courtrooms at the Superior Court in Redwood

City, the teams present their cases to a real practicing judge or attorney while other attorneys score their performances.

Over the course of the past six months, both sides have prepared and practiced delivering thorough arguments presenting evidence that proves their See Mock Trial | Page 2

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FEBRUARY 2018

OPINION / NEWS

“Power to the Polls”: The second Women’s March Johana Ligtenberg Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst

“Show me what democracy looks like!..

This is what democracy looks like!... Love!

Not hate! Makes America great!”

These chants and many others resounded through the air in cities across the United States and the world on January 20, 2018.

One year after Trump took office, hundreds of thousands of women and other feminists took

to the streets. They protested a variety of issues, including the language Trump has used to speak about women as well as recent events that have surfaced regarding the #MeToo movement.

While the march itself emerged last year as a movement for women’s empowerment and rights in the wake of a historical campaign season with Hillary Clinton becoming the first female presidential

candidate for a major party, many used the march to protest different social justice and political issues.

The first government shutdown of 2018 was particularly relevant as it was prompted due to budgeting disagreements surrounding immigration.

California is considered a “sanctuary state,” and San Francisco is one of the many cities within the state that is considered a sanctuary city. Many marchers carried signs demonstrating support for migrants and refugees.

However, the focus of the 2018 Women’s March was to advocate for political involvement through voting and encouraging women to run for of-

fice with the official theme, “Power to the Polls.”

Midterm elections for members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate will be held on November 6. The possibility of giving Democrats more influence in Congress sparked a necessity for voter involvement. Many marchers carried signs reading, “London Breed for Mayor,” referencing Ed Lee’s vice-mayor who served as the acting mayor for San Francisco from December 12, 2017 to January 23, 2018. She was the first woman of color to serve as the city’s mayor before the Board of Supervisors selected Mark Farrell for the interim role instead.

Recent events demonstrate the absolute relevance of the Women’s March.

During the 2018 Grammys, there were only two female winners, despite months of discussion advocating for women’s rights in Hollywood in light of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements.

Many criticized this discrepancy, particularly in light of the Grammys seeming effort to support women, through performances such as Kesha’s “Praying.” She performed the song off of her album “Rainbow,” which she wrote following a trial against her producer, Dr. Luke, for sexual assault, harassment, and gender vi-

olence.

She was joined on stage by several other prominent female performers and was introduced by Janelle Monáe with reference to #TimesUp. Recording Academy president Neil Portnow responded to the controversy, saying that women need “to step up.”

Overall, the 2018 Women’s March was an empowering event, where people spoke out against a wide range of issues affecting minorities in different parts of society. In light of several months of conversation regarding sexual harassment and other women’s issues, the Women’s March demonstrated the strength of democracy and unity across the globe.

Student passion project responds to The Mock Trial team: “It was a hurricane disaster relief in Puerto Rico strong finish for our seniors.”

by Keira Cruickshank Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst

For their passion project, seniors Jillian Antunez, Lindsay Berardi, and Keira Cruickshank are raising money to provide disaster relief for Puerto Rico.

Last fall, the country was devastated by two major hurricanes, Irma and Maria. Many people were left without electricity, running water, shelter, and the necessary government funding for disaster relief.

More than one hundred days later, much of the island still lacks the resources needed to rebuild.

The seniors are collaborating with TriSchool Productions and its spring musical “West Side Story” to help raise awareness and money. The play is a take on “Romeo and Juliet,” telling the story of Puerto Rican immigrants in 1950s New York City. They struggle to adapt to a new way of life amid hostility from businesses, law enforcement, and neighbors.

The seniors were inspired by the play’s heartbreaking story and wanted to use its influence to inform others about what is happening in Puerto Rico since the struggles of the island have been greatly un-

SAMANTHA RAMOS / THE CATALYST

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS / THE NATIONAL GUARD

Members of the Puerto Rico National Guard supply water to a muncipality. derreported in recent news.

For example, a surprisingly low number of Americans know that Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory.

In 1952, it became an autonomous commonwealth, meaning that it has its own independent government, yet remains in American control. Its people are American citizens, pay federal taxes, and can enlist in the U.S. military, but they do not have the power to vote in U.S. elections.

The U.S. has the same responsibilities to Puerto Rico as it does to mainland America, which includes disaster relief.

Unfortunately, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that

it is ending its relief efforts on the island.

Donations to the student passion project “Estamos Unidos por Puerto Rico” can be made at its fundraiser page: goo.gl/ qLP3p5. All donations will go to the Hispanic Federation’s Unidos: Hurricane Relief Fund.

Donations can also be made by buying tickets to Tri-School Productions’s “West Side Story.” Performances will be held at the Gellert Auditorium at Serra HS on March 16, 17, 23, and 24 at 7:30pm and March 18 at 2pm. More information can be found at TriSchoolProductions.com.

Senior Grace Tillman and the other varsity prosecutors rehearse the questioning of witness testimonies during an afterschool practice.

From Mock Trial | Page 1 side of the case regarding two political rivals from non-violent groups. They go as far as accounting for the timeline of events and corroborating evidence from the day of the murder.

The prosecution and the defense teams each have a pre-trial attorney, three trial attorneys, and four witnesses.

The prosecution’s witnesses include the victim’s best friend, the detective who investigated the case, the medical examiner who completed the autopsy, and a reporter who covered the events that took place on the day of the murder.

The defense’s wit-

nesses consist of a tech shop owner where the defendant claimed to be during the time of the murder, a forensics expert who interpreted the evidence in a different way, a history teacher who believes that she saw the defendant several times around the time of murder, and the defendant herself, who testified to her belief in non-violence.

Both NDB teams came out strong in their first week of competition on January 25, but slipped back several places during the next round on February 1. The team ended their season with a powerful performance on February 5.

Co-Captain and senior Roxana Khalili says,

“The end of the season is always sad, but momentous, as we look back on our trials and what we’ve learned from the beginning of the year. Overall, remembering how far we’ve come as confident young women is more important than what the scorers say.”

Team moderator and English teacher Adam Currier says, “The team had a great season that saw return members take on new roles, new members take on challenging roles, and everyone improve over the course of the season. It was a strong finish for our seniors. We are looking forward to a great season next year under new captain, Abiya Baqai.”

theCATALYST NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL’S FINEST NEWS SOURCE

EDITOR IN CHIEF (PRINT) Gaby Tiu

SPORTS EDITOR Vanessa Velasco

EDITOR IN CHIEF (ONLINE) Shreya Chatterjee

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Shay Levy

OPINION EDITOR Michelle Kleytman

DESIGN EDITOR Lizzie McGuire

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Bella Lopez

PHOTO EDITOR Samantha Ramos

ASSISTANT ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Kaitlin McCarthy

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Kayla Stuart

STAFF WRITERS Keira Cruikshank Frankie Dakin Parker Daley Johana Ligtenberg Feauini Saulala Isobel Senhaji STAFF PHOTOGRPAHERS Kennedy Nelson FACULTY ADVISOR Robert Rojas

ABOUT THE CATALYST The Catalyst is a student-run newspaper that is published eight times a year in print and 24/7 online for Notre Dame High School community.

EDITORIAL POLICY The Catalyst accepts unsolicited letters from students, faculty, staff, and alumni as well as press releases from on and off-campus organizations, but cannot guarantee publication. It reserves the right to edit or reject submissions.

The views expressed in the Opinion section do not reflect the views of The Catalyst, NDB, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, or the Archdiocese of San Francisco, but are solely the views of the writer. Unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of The Catalyst.

CONTACT US Notre Dame High School 1540 Ralston Avenue Belmont, California 94002 Phone: (650) 595-1913 Email: TheCatalystNDB@gmail.com

NEWS / ARTS & LIFE

FEBRUARY 2018

page 3

Intersession: “It was a life changing experience...”

From Intersession| Page 1 local hills, mountains, and forests, and the popular Kairos retreat.

Some teachers took their students on travels out of the Bay Area.

Spiritual Life teacher Ynez Manalo lead a group of twelve freshmen and sophomores down to East L.A. in Southern California for an immersion trip where they participated in community service activities and visited various places, including the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Griffith Observatory, and Homeboy Industries.

Manalo said, “Our group had a great time learning about the East Los Angeles community and volunteering our time at various organizations.

What was most inspiring was hearing the students share that it was a life changing experience and that it encouraged them to appreciate what they have and commit to serving others in their daily lives.”

There were a few other NDB groups in SoCal during the week.

English teacher Robert Rojas, Humanities teacher Rebecca Fisher, and Science teacher Abi Vega took twenty sophomores and juniors to visit colleges, including Chapman University, LMU, UCLA, and USC. At each school, they met with NDB alumnae who spent time talking about their experiences at their new schools and catching up with how things are going at their alma mater.

The group also visited Disneyland and Universal Studios.

Athletics Director Jason Levine and the NDB

PHOTO COURTESY OF YNEZ MANALO

Spiritual Life teacher Ynez Manalo and several freshmen and sophomores sort veggies at the St. Francis Center during the East L.A. immersion trip.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELIZABETH WEISHAAR

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHLEY WIILLITS

Sophomore Brianna Nunn sports her new pajama pants that she made during Project Runway.

Several juniors and seniors share a moment between activities at the fourday long Kairos retreat during Intersession week.

Spirit Squad headed to Anaheim for the USA Spirit Nationals. The Varsity Cheer team took third place in the 2018 USA Nationals Medium Show Cheer Novice, while the Varsity Pom team took the 2018 USA Nationals Champions in

Mirna Yao took students on a tour of New York City. Spiritual Life teacher Kristen Menzel and Math teacher Doug Vierra took students to Paris, France.

Students also had the option to sign up for a family trip and design their

Medium Song Pom Novice.

Some teachers and students traveled even further. Social Sciences teacher Stefane Barile took students on Tiny Hours Tours in Portland, Oregon, while Senior Class Co-Moderator

Somewhere to go: Be a tourist and visit the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

by Bella Lopez Arts and Life Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has recently become a place of interest for many teenagers and young adults. Many of them come to see and take selfies with Dan Flavin’s light exhibits. These pieces are lit up in different colors and shapes. Search for #Flavin on Instagram, and you’ll see why they are so popular with the young crowd.

The museum itself houses many works of twentieth century art, including architecture, design, media arts, paintings, photos, and sculptures.

Some of pieces are quite famous, such as Diego Rivera’s “The Flower Car-

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRA LIMTENGCO

Junior Mira Limtegco visited the U.S.S. Midway museum in San Diego during her family trip.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS / FLOCOR

SF MOMA is located on 151 3rd Street in downtown San Francisco. rier,” Marcel Duchamp’s “Fountain,” and Robert Smithson’s “Nonsite.”

All of the art is sure to strike some sort of feeling with visitors.

Whether it be chills because of the giant spiders or hunger due to the lifesize apple core, people who walk through the galleries

are sure to get an interesting experience.

With the open, enthralling, and aesthetically pleasing aura within the walls of this museum, it is a great place to visit with friends, family, or even by yourself. You would be surprised how captivating art can be at just a glance, and

how deeply it can resonate with so many people.

The museum is free for visitors aged 18 and younger and is open Friday to Tuesday from 10am5pm, Thursdays from 10am-9pm, and closed on Wednesdays. For more information, visit SFMoMa. org.

own educational experience. They are required to document their trip and then present the evidence to teachers when they return to school.

Junior Michelle Kleytman went on a family trip to the east coast, visit-

ing colleges, and meeting their water polo coaches.

She says, “It was great learning about the water polo programs that the schools have to offer.

Intersession gave me the time to rank the colleges on my list.”

From Black History| Page 1

with Negro History Week in the 1920s, celebrated in February to coincide with the birthdays of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass on the 12th and the 14th, respectively.

In 1969, black students and educators from Kent State University proposed the celebration of Black History Month, and it was observed for the first time in 1970.

Throughout the 1970s, the movement expanded throughout cultural and educational centers, and was officially recognized by U.S. President Gerald Ford in 1976. It has since expanded and is celebrated by several other countries, with some nations recognizing other months.

Club designs Black History Month board

Director of Student Life and Wellness Denise Uhl spoke enthusiastically about the board. She said, “I admire the passion that our students are showing in their commitment to Black History Month and diversity in general. These students recognized something that was significantly needed at school, and I couldn’t be prouder of these students for putting diversity issues forward... I think that they put it up in a way that allows the education to come through.

It is really thoughtful and well done, and I think they should be proud of it.”

Black History Month has been celebrated in the United States since the early 1900s. It began

FEBRUARY 2018 SPORTS / NEWS Cheer and pom head to USA Spirit Nationals A day in the life of a Tiger

page 4

Just some of the things that have happened to our readers over the past month...

by Parker Daley Staff Writer @TheNDBCatalyst During Intersession, the NDB JV and Varsity Cheer and Varsity Pom teams will travel to Anaheim to compete in the USA Spirit Nationals. The three teams worked hard during the season to prepare for this competition.

Varsity pom team member and sophomore Lilliana LoGuidice says, “We are having at least 4 practices a week… We’re hoping to get first place Last year, we got second because we missed half a point, and that was pretty devastating for our team.”

Varsity cheer team captain and senior Ruby Lewis says, “We work hard throughout the entire season starting in the summer all the way until February before we leave.”

Both girls feel confident in their teams.

KAYLA STUART / THE CATALYST

The pom team performs for the student body at the raffle assembly.

Lewis says, “We have been undefeated this season and have a team of really strong, hardworking girls, so we hope to take first. Fingers crossed!”

LoGuidice added that the pom team is “much stronger” this season.

The teams have each earned their place at the competition. Lewis explained, “In order to qualify for nationals, your team needs to get a score of 75 or higher in any competitions

throughout the year. If you get a 75 or higher, then you get a ‘bid.’ We scored between 90-94 throughout the season.”

In addition to competing, the girls will be touring Southern California, including Disneyland and Universal Studios, and bonding with their teammates during the trip.

Lewis said, “Nationals is the time when the team is closer than ever, which is the best part of the

season. I am looking forward to spending time with my team and bonding, even though it is my last year.”

All of their hard work at practices and competitions throughout the year will pay off when the girls have the chance to compete nationally.

“I’m excited to see our outcome, and I know that we will do the best that we possibly can” said LoGuidice.

Athlete spotlight: Basketball player Talia Bertana

by Vanessa Velasco Sports Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

Senior Talia Bertana is playing her third and final season as a member of NDB’s Varsity Basketball team. The Catalyst asked her a few things about what those years were like.

When asked how the season is going, Bertana said, “We are doing really well this year and will be going to CCS in a couple of weeks! Our senior game is on Tuesday the thirteenth, and although I am excited for the game, it’s going to be bittersweet knowing that it will be our last home game as a team.”

When asked what is her favorite thing about

playing the sport for the school, she replied, “How close the whole team is.

I love bonding with my teammates and working together to win games. This is our head coach’s last year, so we want to make sure that we play our very best for him before he leaves.”

As a veteran player, she says the team has taught her a few things over the course of several seasons. She explained, “The key skill I have learned from playing basketball for Notre Dame is teamwork.

I have learned how to rely and trust others on the team, that as a team we work so much better together rather than individually.”

As the saying goes, “All good things

Senior Caroline Kearney is a captain and center back on NDB’s Varsity Soccer team. She has played soccer for five years, three with the school.

She says her favorite part about playing with the team is the people she has met since freshman year. She says, “Regardless of whether it was a winning or losing season, it’s always been a learning experience and so much fun and that is because of all the girls and coaches.”

Kearney was thrilled to welcome the team’s new freshmen players. She feels that the five of them will help the team improve next season as they learn to play with the

older girls.

She believes the challenge for this year’s team was getting in sync and being able to score goals because everyone comes from different teams and has different ways of playing.

Kearney helped lead her team to first place in the league. When asked about the final league game, she says, “I don’t think we prepared differently, at least not physically. As we got closer to the end of league, it became more of a mental game of how hard we were willing to work as a team in practice and on game days because ultimately every result came down to who wanted it more.”

One thing that she loved about this team and is looking forward to during the playoff games is doing

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

Students come forward to receive ashes or a blessing during the Ash Wednesday prayer service, marking the first day of the forty day long Lenten season.

SAMANTHA RAMOS / THE CATALYST

Bertana (#3) makes an attempt at a basket. come to an end,” and Bertana knows her last season is ending soon with the postseason starting up and tryouts and practices for spring sports starting up.

She said, “I will miss going to practice ev-

ery day after school and spending a lot of time with the girls on my team. It is going to be so weird having more free time after basketball, and I will miss being with my team 24/7 so much.”

Athlete spotlight: Soccer player Caroline Kearney

by Shay Levy Assistant Sports Editor @TheNDBCatalyst

SAMANTHA RAMOS / THE CATALYST

Father Michael Liliedahl presides over the Foundress Day Mass, celebrating St. Julie Billiart who founded the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur over 200 years ago. Several sisters along with students, faculty, and staff from the Notre Dame school communities joined in the celebration.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHLEY WILLITS

Chorus teacher Ashley Willits (bottom right) takes a selfie with ASL teacher Emily Borja, Director of Student Life and Wellness Denise Uhl, and Math teacher Jennifer Walton on their way to the four-day long Kairos retreat.

Humans of NDB: Elizabeth Mendoza

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROLINE KEARNEY

Kearney (second from right) and her teammates celebrate the last league game of the season. their very best, especially because this is her last year and she wants to leave a great legacy. She will greatly miss the team dynamic, as she has found that every year is different and fun in its own way. She is excited to compete and handle wins and losses together, as

a team.

Kearney is sad that this is her last year playing for NDB. She will miss her teammates because they have become her family, and the coaches, especially Christina Okubo, because they have taught and encouraged her to play well.

ROBERT ROJAS / THE CATALYST

“I’m giving up meat for Lent because I’ve always wanted to try it. I eat meat a lot, and it is important to try something new. It’s important to honor the sacrifices that God has given us. Amen.”

“Also, I’m really excited to go on the intersession trip with Mr. Rojas, Ms. Vega, and Ms. Fisher. I’m looking forward to going to a college campus for the first time.”